Vol. 8, Issue 5, Part J (2024)

Abstract: An experiment was carried out to estimate the heritability and genetic advance in mutant populations of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) with regard to yield and its components. The study involved three sesame cultivars: GT-10, TKG-22, and Gophya Local, which were exposed to various doses of gamma radiation (400Gy, 500Gy, 600Gy, and 700Gy) at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Trombay, Mumbai. The M₂ generation was cultivated along with control during the Kharif season of 2020. In cultivar GT-10, high GCV was recorded for seed yield per plant, followed by the number of branches per plant. The highest PCV was noted for seed yield per plant, followed by the number of branches per plant, the number of capsules per plant, and the number of seeds per capsule. For cultivar TKG-22, high GCV was observed for seed yield per plant, followed by the number of capsules per plant. The highest PCV was seen for seed yield per plant, followed by the number of capsules per plant, the number of branches per plant, and the number of seeds per capsule. In the Gophya Local cultivar, a moderate GCV was observed for the number of capsules per plant, followed by seed yield per plant and the number of seeds per capsule, while high PCV was recorded for the number of capsules per plant, followed by seed yield per plant. Traits such as seed yield per plant, number of branches per plant, capsule length, and number of seeds per capsule in genotype GT-10 showed high heritability with a significant genetic advance as percentage of the mean. Similarly, in genotype TKG-22, traits like seed yield per plant and the number of capsules per plant exhibited high heritability coupled with a substantial genetic advance as percentage of the mean. This indicates the presence of additive gene action, suggesting that phenotypic selection for these traits would be effective for future breeding programs.